Thompson & Morgan yesterday removed sprouting varieties of rocket, white mustard and fenugreek following suggestions the seeds could be linked to an outbreak which has left eight people in hospital in Bordeaux.

French health officials said test results showed two of the eight had eaten sprouts from the three types of seeds at a school fair in the town of Begles.

Thompson & Morgan, based on the outskirts of Ipswich, said there had been “no substantive link” established between the consumption of sprouted seeds and the outbreak, and that the temporary product withdrawal from 352 garden centres was a “precautionary measure.”

Tests on sprouting seed rocket, sprouting seed white mustard and sprouting seed fenugreek are being conducted at a laboratory in the north of England.

Two mixed collections, sprouting seed sandwich mix and sprouting seed salad sprouts mix, containing one or more of the seed varieties, have also been withdrawn from sale.

The company, which has already suspended online sales of the seeds, announced it would not be recalling any of its products. In a statement, it said: “No other Thompson & Morgan product is involved.”

Food Standards Agency (FSA) guidelines on growing and eating sprouting seeds can be found at www.food.gov.uk.